おもちゃ (1999): Besetzung, Handlung & Streaming

Released in 1999, おもちゃ is a drama film directed by Kinji Fukasaku, running about 113 minutes.

What it’s about. Set in the late 1950s, when geisha culture was threatened by moral crusades, it tells the story of Omocha (Miyamoto Maki), a young girl who sees the geisha life as a way to lift her poverty-stricken family from their hand-to-mouth existence. Through her eyes, we see the protocols and complex financial relationships which dictate the running of the geisha house. Fukasaku's film is a work of great delicacy with moments of hypnotic beauty, and his tender direction, often touched with a sense of wonder, fills the screen with lovingly constructed scenes. At its heart is the poignant situation of the women who must sacrifice their normal relationships to live an ambiguous life in which they are a key part of society while being kept, for the most part, on its periphery, like perpetual mistresses.

Who’s in it. おもちゃ stars Maki Miyamoto as Tokiko aka Omocha, Sumiko Fuji as Satoe, Mai Kitajima as Somemaru and Masahiko Tsugawa as Yoshikawa, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 7.6/10, おもちゃ has been warmly received by audiences.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch おもちゃ page.

If you liked it. Fans of おもちゃ tend to enjoy Die Verurteilten, Der Pate, Schindlers Liste and Der Pate - Teil II.